Boro were denied victory at Mansfield Town in the first domestic friendly of pre-season for Rob Edwards’ side.
Goals from Dael Fry, Tommy Conway and Morgan Whittaker put the Teessiders into a commanding position at half-time at One Call Stadium.
The home side responded well after the break and pulled two goals back, but a Sol Brynn penalty looked set to help secure victory on the road.
Another penalty three minutes from the end earned the Stags a share of the spoils, though.
Boro looked in determined mood from the outset and took the lead from a short-corner routine in the 22nd minute. The ball was whipped in from the right by Whittaker and powered home by Fry, who headed across goal into the top corner.
Whittaker was a thorn in Mansfield’s side and fired over from the edge of the box shortly afterwards.
Sam Silvera forced former Boro goalkeeper Liam Roberts into a sprawling save when his cross from the left arced towards goal, and Riley McGree also had a sighter from the edge of the area deflected wide.
Another Boro corner helped create goal number two, with Whittaker’s cross causing chaos in the Mansfield area. The referee spotted an infringement and pointed to the spot, from which Conway coolly slotted home.
Edwards’ men made it three goals in 15 minutes when Rav van den Berg’s superb ball down the right found Whittaker, who took it on his left foot and stroked in via the post.
Fry could have had a first half double, but his stoppage time header from another Whittaker corner was blocked.
Edwards made five half-time changes and within two minutes of the restart, Marcus Forss - one of those introduced - called Roberts into action.
But Mansfield responded well, and looked threatening throughout the second half as they searched for a route back into the game.
They pulled one goal back following a well-worked move down the right, with Nathan Moriah-Welsh providing the finishing touch.
There were a further six Boro substitutions just after the hour mark and the away side almost restored their three-goal advantage, only for Roberts to save from Delano Burgzorg.
Mansfield had a golden chance to further reduce the arrears on 73 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Sol Brynn brilliantly sprung to his right to deny Rhys Oates from the spot.
There continued to be opportunities at both ends, with Burgzorg in the thick of the action. He was kept off the scoresheet by a one-on-one save from Roberts and later pulled a shot into the side netting.
Micah Hamilton forced Roberts into another diving stop but Mansfield threatened a late twist when Stephen McLaughlin headed in their second with seven minutes remaining.
That proved to be more than just a threat. After another penalty was given with three minutes on the clock, Jordan Bowery made no mistake from 12 yards to complete the home side's comeback.
Boro return to action on Wednesday with a trip to Bradford City.
